Friday, November 20, 2009

Celebrating Catholic Education in the Archdiocese - Spotlight on Rome

Father Stephen Amesse, pastor of St. Patrick's Parish (Fallow-field) and School Board Director James (Jamie) McCracken

This week, on Tuesday evening, there was a gathering of trustees of the Ottawa Catholic School Board with school principals, high school chaplaincy leaders and parish priests. It was a warm and cordial environment (only a few remarks, no speeches). Here are some photos from the occasion:

TWO MAJOR EVENTS IN ROME

POPE BENEDICT XVI TO RECEIVE VISITORS...

... Archbishop Rowan Williams

These days, the Holy Father will receive Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, a visit planned long before the announcement of the Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum coetibus and Complementary Norms associated with responding to traditional Anglican Catholic congregations' (and individuals') requests to be received in Communion with the Holy See but preserving aspects of Anglican tradition and life.

... Artists from around the world

In early September, the Vatican announced a formal meeting between the pope and contemporary artists to take place tomorrow, November 21st, ten years after Pope John Paul II's letter to artists. Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, suggested the idea because he says there should be a dialogue between artists and the Church.

Contemporary sculptors, painters, writers and musicians--including Canadian musician Angela Hewitt--have all been invited to the meeting which could take place in the Sistine Chapel among the art of one their more prominent predecessors, Michelangelo.

Archbishop Ravasi described the forthcoming meeting as an effort "to rediscover a discourse and dialogue that is global and essential".

The archbishop noted that 500 artists were invited but only 170 had confirmed their attendance in early November but the number has grown since then; he said for many artists this was due to conflicting schedules not ideological differences.

He said those invited "do not belong only to the Catholic world," although the Church "is represented in a substantial way."

The day before the meeting, the artists will visit the modern art collection in the Vatican Museums, which was established at the request of Paul VI.

Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt is among international artists who will participate in the pope's meeting with artists

Among the artists who will attend the meeting are Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt, Mexican painter Gustavo Aceves and the master of Russian figurative art Aleksandr Zvyagin. Also attending will be British architect David Chipperfield, and Swiss architect Mario Botta. Representatives of literature include novelist Susana Tamaro and Italian literary critic and journalist Lorenzo Mondo.

There will be brief musical interventions to open and close the meeting. Some paragraphs of John Paul II's letter will also be read.

Benedict will address the artists and later, participants will attend a meeting in the New Wing of the Vatican Museums and be given a medal on behalf of the Holy Father that was made especially for the event.